"This contested campaign season has generated the most public interest I've seen in over two decades in candidate debates; a win-win for the city and a trend that continues with each event," said Independent Editor Paul Bass. "Grassroots community groups have taken an unprecedented role this year in partnering with media organizations to hold these debates, to get their issues before the candidates."

There are five mayoral candidates are seeking to replace the 20-year incumbent mayor John DeStefano Jr. I believe no front-runner has emerged among the candidates and it's fair game on an even playing field.

According to some residents, people all over the city have been concerned with public safety as we experiment with Community Policing 2.0.

A huge rise in the number of people cycling to work in recent years has led to a number of passionate debates about who has the right to the road while remaining safe.

In addition, some tragic deaths of young people while crossing streets sparked a citywide traffic-calming movement that also spawns its own set of questions for the next mayor.

Reducing gun violence has been in the forefront of heated public safety discussion of many neighborhoods in the city, especially among black residents.

The number of homicides so far this year compared to the same time period last year is roughly the same. There were nine reported homicides as of June 29. 2012, and 10 to date this year,

Reports of shots fired dropped about 30 percent from 2012 to 2013, in the period from the beginning of the year to June 29. There had been 118 reports of shots fired as of June 29 this year compared to 169 in 2012.

There are 33 reported shooting victims this year as of June 29, compared to 49 last year for the same time period.

The majority of the known suspects and victims in the city's homicides this year have been young black men.

Among other items to be debated by the candidates is the future of neighborhoods.

Some candidates have said much of the city's efforts have been devoted to downtown development, rather than earmarking funds for neighborhood reconstruction.

The forum is sponsored by the New Haven Independent, the New Haven Register, Inner-City News, and La Voz Hispana.

Other community sponsors include: New Haven Democracy Fund, New Haven Votes, New Haven Safe Streets Coalition, Elm City Cycling, New Haven Community Management Teams, and the New Haven Violence Reduction Group. All official mayoral candidates have confirmed their attendance.

"It's great to have the Register, Independent, La Voz and Inner City working together," Bass said.

I agree.

Citizens Television also plans to record and then broadcast the forum. The Register will livestream it www.nhregister.com.